Children of the 90s Research Database
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
342611
Contact name
Kate Northstone
Contact email
Research summary
ALSPAC Research Database
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0078
Date of REC Opinion
14 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
The study maintains a comprehensive participant management database of all cohort participants, primarily for the purposes of maintaining contact and managing recruitment and research projects. This is held on a completely different system to any research data and is only accessible by the administrative staff. Personal data is never stored with research data.
ALSPAC collects research data directly from participants through questionnaires and face-to-face visits. There is at least one questionnaire per year, sometimes more. Clinical data has also been collected on nearly 5,000 of the mothers via face-to-face visits to obtain mostly physical assessments that cannot be done remotely. Biological samples including blood, urine, hair, nails, saliva and placenta have been collected, and there is also DNA available.
The ALSPAC Research Database holds data from NHS England, Department for Education, local NHS trusts, UK Health Security Agency, local police, social media and shopping histories, geographic data, and local GPs. ALSPAC integrates these linked, third-party, administrative data with its own data collected directly from participants.
Data is stored and accessed via a Secure Research Environment.Research programme
Since the early 1990s over 14,000 families, from the South West of England, have been taking part in “ALSPAC”, one of the largest studies on health and development in the world. We are planning to recruit new members to improve and update the study and to reflect changes over time. Participants have completed many questionnaires and attended face to face visits to provide data about their health and development and to measure things that may influence these. Using records collected routinely, from the NHS and other organisations or government departments, to gather similar information is an effective method, with minimal burden on our participants, to securely collect information on their lives and health from various routine sources. We use this information to answer important questions about health, education, social and other issues amongst the different generations - young adults, their parents and their children. We also explore questions relating to the impact of parental health, environmental exposures and behaviour on their children’s health and wellbeing. We will work with external collaborators, researchers, NHS and local authorities to maximise the wider benefits of the ALSPAC Research Database. Some projects will be designed and lead by researchers outside the University of Bristol.
Research database title
ALSPAC Research Database
Establishment organisation
ALSPAC, University of Bristol
Establishment organisation address
L&R Building, Southmead Hospital
Southmead Rd
Bristol
BS10 5NB